Shrubs or small trees, latex white. Stems repeatedly dichotomously branched. Leaves opposite; adaxial surface of petiole often with a basal semicircular or semiamplexicaul ocrea. Cymes corymbose or umbellate, at branch forks, many or rarely 1-flowered. Calyx divided halfway down or deeper, with few to many basal glands inside. Corolla salverform, widened at or near middle, lobes sharply overlapping to left [or right]. Stamens inserted in widened part of corolla tube; filaments short or almost none; anthers oblong or narrowly triangular, free from pistil head, base sagittate or deeply cordate and not spurred; disc absent. Ovaries 2, free; ovules numerous. Style filiform; pistil head with a subglobose or lampshade-shaped basal part and stigmoid, 2-cleft apical part. Follicles 2, divaricate. Seeds with a red or orange fleshy aril; coma absent.

Ninety-nine species: Africa, Asia, North America, Pacific Islands, South America; five species in China.